Individual Career Opportunity Grants Now Open | South Arts

Individual Career Opportunity Grants Now Open

South Arts recognizes that an invitation to participate in a major milestone opportunity is not always enough. Even with stipends or payments, overall expenses can make such an opportunity inaccessible. To ensure that artists from our region can take full advantage of major opportunities, South Arts offers Individual Artist Career Opportunity Grants.

The Individual Artist Career Opportunity Grant supports a milestone opportunity in an individual artist’s career that is likely to lead to substantial and significant career advancement. Grants of up to $2,000 are available to support opportunities taking place between June 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024.

Individuals receiving this award ARE eligible to apply for other South Arts funding (including the Southern Prize and State Fellowships, Jazz Road, and others) unrelated to this project. South Arts funds cannot be used as a match for this program.

South Arts is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA). Artists with disabilities, artists who are black, indigenous or other people of color (BIPOC) and those who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+), are particularly encouraged to apply.

Prior to applying, artists are strongly encouraged to discuss their application with Program Director Emmitt Stevenson at [email protected] or 404.874.7244 x825.

Important Dates & Deadlines

• Applications Open: Tuesday, February 17, 2023
• Application Webinar: Tuesday, February 28, 2023, 2:30-3:30 p.m. ET | Register for the Webinar | The webinar will be recorded and made available on this site soon afterwards.
• Applications Due: Friday, March 17, 2023
• Award Notifications: June 2023
• Grant period: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
• Activities Start Date: On or After July 1, 2023
• Activities End Date: On or before July 31, 2024

Eligible Opportunities

Examples of opportunities that match the intent of this program include, but are not limited to:

• Accepting an invitation to exhibit, sell, screen, present, read or perform work in a significant in-person forum such as a renowned/major festival, invitational exhibit, invitational/juried showcase, etc.
• Participating in a residency to research/create a body of work and build network connections
• Accepting an invitation to participate in a renowned/major artist residency or writer’s retreat
• Travel associated with a significant career-building activity

Examples of opportunities that do NOT match the intent of this program:

• Opportunities that support and advance the career of groups of artists such as musical bands or theatre companies. This program is limited to individual artists only.
• Cataloging, publication, documentation, promotion or archiving of a body of work
• Undertaking advanced study or an apprenticeship with an influential artist
• Activities that support participation in a college or university degree program
• General non-invitation showcasing at booking conferences
• General professional development activities

Other types of eligible opportunities not listed here exist. It is incumbent upon the applicant to make a strong and compelling case for the importance of the opportunity and the likely impact it will have on their career.